3 weeks ago
Widow gets 'recovered' message 42 days after cop's death
A nurse named Seema Kujur got a text message on her husband's phone.
The message said the hospital was happy that her husband had recovered and was going home.
But her husband, a police constable named Devnarayan Ram, had died 42 days earlier.
He died on June 30 while he was being treated at a government hospital in Chhattisgarh.
The message was a mistake made by a computer system.
A hospital worker had been slow to update the patient's records, and when the records were finally updated the system thought the patient was recovering and leaving.
The mistake made the family very sad and upset.
Seema is asking for a high-level inquiry and says those responsible should be punished.
The hospital says the worker was removed from the job.
The hospital also denied that the card was misused after the patient died.
Seema Kujur, a nurse at a government hospital in Jashpur district, received an auto-generated Ayushman Bharat message on her late husband Devnarayan Ram's phone saying he had 'recovered' and was 'returning home.'
Devnarayan Ram, a 39-year-old police constable, died on June 30 during treatment at the government medical college hospital in Ambikapur, Surguja district — 42 days before the message arrived.
Hospital authorities said the message was triggered when the claim closure was updated on the portal on August 6, after a daily-wage data entry operator delayed the process; the operator has been removed.
Seema demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action, saying the lapse raises questions about the state's health facilities, especially for poor and tribal families.
The hospital denied misuse of the Ayushman card after death, saying only ICU and blood-transfusion packages worth Rs 16,700 were used during the five-day stay, with Rs 4.74 lakh remaining on the card.
- Who
- Seema Kujur, a nurse at a government hospital in Jashpur district, and her late husband Devnarayan Ram, a 39-year-old police constable.
- What
- An auto-generated Ayushman Bharat message informed the family that the deceased constable had 'recovered' and was being discharged, 42 days after his death.
- Where
- Government medical college hospital in Ambikapur, Surguja district, Chhattisgarh; the family is from Jashpur district.
- When
- The message arrived weeks after the death — one report says August 10, another August 6 — 42 days after Ram died on June 30; he had been admitted on June 26.
- Why
- A data entry operator delayed closing the patient's Ayushman claim on the portal, and the August 6 claim-closure update triggered the system-generated recovery message.
Family's Demand for Inquiry
Hospital Authorities' Explanation
Cause of the mistaken message
Family's Demand for Inquiry
Seema questioned how such a major technical lapse could occur and said it raises questions about the state's health facilities, particularly for poor and tribal families; she also asked whether it was a mere technical oversight or something worse, such as a larger racket within the scheme.
Hospital Authorities' Explanation
The hospital said the message was triggered by a delay in processing the patient's claim closure on the portal by a data entry operator, and denied any misuse of the Ayushman card after the death.
Accountability and response
Family's Demand for Inquiry
Seema demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against those responsible, saying punishment is needed to restore people's faith in the healthcare system.
Hospital Authorities' Explanation
The hospital removed the data entry operator and wrote to the state nodal agency to ensure auto-generated messages about discharge, referral or death are sent only after the patient's actual status is verified.
Key facts
- Recipient of message
- Seema Kujur, nurse at a government hospital in Jashpur district, wife of the deceased
- Deceased
- Devnarayan Ram, 39, police constable from Jashpur district
- Admission and death
- Admitted June 26; died during treatment on June 30 at Ambikapur Medical College Hospital (five-day stay)
- Message received
- August 6 per one report, August 10 per another — 42 days after death
- Cause of error
- Delay in closing Ayushman claim on the portal by a daily-wage data entry operator, who was removed
- Ayushman packages used
- Rs 16,700 (ICU and blood transfusion) during five-day stay; one report says Rs 16,500
- Balance on Ayushman card
- Rs 4,74,800 (Rs 4.74 lakh)
- Official response
- Hospital wrote to the state nodal agency in Nava Raipur to verify patient status before sending auto-generated messages
Quotes
Dr. Shailendra Gupta
Surguja district health department official
“You can imagine how troubling it is for his family to see such a message. I started wondering how such a big error could be made. This raises a question on the health facility in the state. You can only imagine what must be happening with ordinary tribal people. I demand a high‑level inquiry and those responsible must be punished for such an error…”
indianexpress.com
“The amount was deducted only for the treatment provided during the patient’s actual stay in the hospital. No additional amount was deducted.”
theprint.in
Hospital senior official
Senior official at the government hospital in Surguja district
“We have written to the state nodal agency in New Raipur asking them to cross‑check information of the deceased before generating such a message. The data entry operator concerned, who was hired on collector rate, has been removed.”
indianexpress.com
“"We acknowledge genuine operational lapses within the hospital’s administrative system."”
livemint.com
Sources
Recovered & Returning Home: Hospital text 42 days after cop’s death adds to grief; kin seek probe
‘Happy you have recovered’: Cop receives Ayushman message on phone – 42 days after his death
42 days after husband’s death, wife comes to know that he is ‘heading home’; Ayushman Bharat declares him ‘recovered’
Related news
Patients Treated for One Ailment, Hospitals Bill Another in Bhopal
Haryana Says Ayushman Bharat Health Services Continue Despite IMA Call
Farmers Declared Dead Forced to Prove They're Alive
Private Hospitals Flag Ayushman Bharat Payment Delays and Claim Deductions
Government de-empanels 2,359 hospitals, suspends 1,200 under Ayushman Bharat
